Friday, June 24, 2011

** Beaten California paramedic upgraded from critical to serious, moves arm

** Pittsburgh firefighter set to be arrested after attacking paramedics during call

UNITED STATES NEWS

** California paramedic Bryan Stow, 42, who was beaten into a coma outside Dodger Stadium in March, is now able to move his arm. That is the word from the LA Times (June 22) which said Stow’s condition has been upgraded from critical to serious. Rehabilitating in San Francisco, Stow is also opening his eyes and breathing on his own. Despite the progress, however, doctors remain guarded about his prognosis for recovery. Suffering brain damage during the March 31st attack, he has only recently revived from his medically induced coma. Stow’s alleged assailant, meanwhile, has not yet been charged, although Police Chief Charlie Beck said detectives have gathered enough evidence to prove the guilt of Giovanni Ramirez, 31. A second assailant remains at large.

** Pittsburgh police expect to charge a city firefighter with aggravated assault and harassment after he attacked both paramedics and police when they came to his aid following a drug overdose Wednesday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Sadie Gurman/June 22) said Marc E. Vrane, 39, will be tagged with the infractions once he is released from hospital. According to the newspaper, EMS attended his home around 1 a.m. where he was found unconscious but breathing. After administering Narcan, medics said Vrane became combative, at one point spitting, breaking his restraints, and kicking a police officer. Vrane has worked as a firefighter for 17 years.